Coach situation

[stripes]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Game is going well when my partner (Lead and a veteran official) makes a tough block/charge call during transition. He calls a charge on A1. I am Trail tableside right next to Coach A (in his 43rd year coaching). Coach A goes nuts yelling about how that was a terrible call.

I think you can appreciate that this is a big deal to the coach (even if you think he is wrong about the call) and he is going to voice his displeasure with the call. You should expect that in any game.

He's yelling at my partner but I am right there. I was at his side right after he started yelling and was talking to him saying "coach stop, coach calm down, etc". He had been good so far in the game, hadn't been an ass, so I wanted to give him a chance to calm down.

Other than voicing his displeasure, was he doing anything to draw attention to himself? Jumping up and down? Throwing a clipboard? Ripping off his jacket? Storming out of the box? Standing out of the box?

He didn't take that chance, so I turned away and called a tech. I immediately walk away from him as he starts to realize what I've done. I walk towards the C and meet him at halfcourt. I tell him I've called a tech, etc., etc. Meanwhile Coach A has stopped yelling at Lead for the call and is now yelling at me. "What did I do to you?!? I was yelling at him!" I could have given him a second but (wisely I think) chose not to.

Was it wise to give him the first one? You said that your partner was a veteran. Could he not handle his own business? Did your partner say anything to the coach prior to your T? Very likely, the coach was so wound up about the call he never heard your warning.

Later in the game I was Trail during FT's and talked to him for a minute. I mostly listened and let him vent a little. No surprise he didn't think he deserved that one.

This was a good move, IMO. Give him a chance to talk about it. As you well know, coaches can earn one in many ways, but in their opinion if there is a very limited list of reasons that they can get a T.

My questions: should I have let my partner who made the call deal with the yelling and call the tech? Do I have a responsibility being tableside right there to call the tech to back up my P? If warranted, should I call the second tech or let a partner get it? This is summer league ball and I didn't think it was the right environment to run him by myself.

Without having seen the situation, it is hard to determine what was the proper course of action. I can tell you that if I called the foul and you called the T, the film had better show that the coach did something or said something that there could be NO OTHER CHOICE except to issue a T. I want to handle my business. I expect my partners to do the same.

I think you do need to back up your partner, but I'm not sure that you need to "protect" a veteran. Did your partner agree with your T? Was he prepared to give one there? Surely he heard the coach's yelling.

The second T is a tricky situation. The assignor here does not want the same official issuing both Ts. In general principle, I agree with him. Make sure the coach really earns his exit. However, there are times where the same official should give both. In this situation, if the coach should be tossed, it would be obvious to your partners as well.

Summer ball is a great time for these types of situations. I would talk about this situation in detail with people in your area who you trust and see what they think should be done. From what you have described, I think you were too quick to give the T. Some venting on a tough call is to be expected and is a normal part of the game. You have to know where to draw the line with regards to behavior and punish those who step over the line. If this coach stepped over the line...you were right.